New project, we'll see how it unfolds.

[isawlogs]

  Very well done, I now know you have way more patience then me  :D   :D

[SwampDonkey]

You know once you have a bunch of warp on, a full length blanket could be weaved in 2 days. Now they would be 8-10 hr days because of the pirn winding that has to disrupt the weaving every 3 reps of the weave pattern or so. So if a fella wants to do a bunch of blankets, decide how many for that weave structure, and just cut each length off as it's weaved.  8)

[Patty]

Wow, Donk, that is very impressive!!

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Too COOL......I like it!

[SwampDonkey]

On Sunday, the throw ended up in someone else's hands. ;D

Thanks.

[WDH]

We knew all along that she would like it.

[Patty]

Donk, you old romancer you! 

[Magicman]

This has been a totally amazing project.  I truly admire your craftsmanship as well as your dedication to perfecting each detail.   

[WDH]

It works, too  8).

[SwampDonkey]

Not only that, it's not really all that complicated. The only hard thing is the fact there are no modern plans. So you have to study books and the net and ask experienced weavers like on the forums. They are just as helpful as FF members. ;D

I have a couple little modifications to carry out next season. But, not being familiar with the forces involved you learn as you go.  Of course a little stubbornness sometimes gets in the way of experience. ;)

I have been giving demos of the loom to family. A couple more dropping bye in the morning. Some have scratched their heads over how it works. Others still want to come see. :D

[Magicman]

I would be doing a "show and tell" also.   

[jamesamd]

Inspiring work Donk!!!!!
Congradulations!
Jim

[Clam77]

If you have any Amish communities in the area you might invite them over for a test run/improvment ideas.  They still use looms such as that here in some of the Amish places and I'm sure they'd clue you in on ways that make it's use easier and more efficient.    ;)

Excellent work btw!!    ;D

[SwampDonkey]

As a couple 30 year experienced weavers told me. Each type of loom works like a system that can not be pieced together with ideas from other types of looms and expect to work properly. There are no short cuts, until you have learned the ways of that loom. ;)  There are no Amish here in NB. But there are similar groups that live the simpler life. Myself, I am no tourist of such places. They live their lives in piece as do I. ;) If I want to see some of the old ways, I can go visit Kings Landing Historical Settlement in Prince William. But I have never seen any looms there, just spinning wheels.

There is an old loom they say in a nearby town that was used up until the folks got old. The folks that are in possession of it said they have no idea how it goes together or works. I have not seen it.

[SwampDonkey]

A new video to add to the thread.  ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6PFcNYCgtc

[Lud]

Real, real nice, Donk.  My wife is so impressed with your loom.  She has 4  now in her collection that she uses so I'm used to the noises  the loom makes.  I like the "fly"  particularly.

She's a member of a spinning and weaving guild in our county and they're all great friends and a tremendous resource  to each other.  We do have a lot of Amish in Ohio but don't see a lot of weaving from them.  Their  plain and simple is pretty basic  and not of the complexity the Guild leans towards.

Maybe there's a guild near you.

Great job! ;D ;D

[Norm]

Very cool SD!

[WDH]

You could get into a rhythm with that thing.

[SwampDonkey]

Lud, your wife might be hinting at a new fly attachment. ;D By the sounds of things she's addicted to weaving. On a forum I visit, those ones that are "hooked" have 2 or more looms of different types. I built the countermarche because it is very versatile. If your ambitious enough you can even build (buy) an attachment for a draw loom that gives you capability to make all kinds of patterns. With all the "draws" involved, they sure take a lot of time to set up though. ;D

Thanks all.

[Magicman]

All of this loom stuff is so over the top for me.  I have really enjoyed watching your skills and it has been an eye opener for sure.  You have my admiration for sure Sir.

[SwampDonkey]

Lud, the weavers are too scattered about the country here for a local guild. If I look online on the national level, NS is the only Maritime province listing any guilds. I know one exists in Fredericton, but that's too far away to be local. I only know of a couple weavers just because of trade shows or events they weave for. And they are retired, nothing to live off of. Chances are it would be a long time selling much of anything locally.

MM, like Jeff said some of the terms are like reading Gene Roddenberry novels. But it's just a simple machine driven by the weaver's power. ;D

[metalspinner]

 8) 8)  That is an incredible machine you built there, swampdonkey.  My mind is still trying to figure out how it works.

Your loom room looks pretty tight.  Did you design it for that space?  I like the rocking bench. ;)

[SwampDonkey]

Only in width and depth of the loom, but ideally a fella should have another 6 feet on either end of the loom. Unfortunately, these old farm houses weren't designed with looms in mind. My mother walked into the room and said, this room is small.  ;D :D 

[Kevin]

Good work Donk, outstanding really.
Looks like you'll be needing a New project.

[grweldon]

So SwampDonkey,

You got a set of updated plans for that contraption?  I'm sure you could sell...er...give them away to all your pioneering woodworker/mill owner online friend who might want to tackle a project like this!

Seriously though, if you would like to market plans, I have the ability to create computer solid models and drawings...